Archives for September 2016

Liverpool heads to Swansea on Saturday, looking to continue the momentum they have gained from the past couple of matches heading into the international break. The Reds are coming off an emphatic 5-1 win over Hull City last week.

As for the line-up, there really shouldn’t be many changes from the unit that played against Hull.

As Chelsea FC’s game against Hull City approaches, there is a dominant question being asked by Chelsea fans, how is John Terry’s recovery going?

(Editor’s Note: the following Chelsea FC injury report is by Caleb Thompson)

Terry turned his ankle in the latter stages of the 2-2 draw with Swansea on the 11th of September, meaning that he hasn’t been able to participate in any competition since then. This meant that David Luiz was brought into the starting lineup to replace him. This came with great success as a majority of people now tip Luiz alongside Terry on Saturday.

After Chelsea’s disastrous defeat against Arsenal, Antonio Conte will be looking to pull Chelsea back on track, and the upcoming game against Hull City will be the perfect place to regain momentum.

After two consecutive defeats, against Liverpool and Arsenal, these next few games will be crucial for rehabilitating the Chelsea squad. That being said, Conte does have the freedom to experiment with the squad during the next game, if he so wishes. But knowing Conte’s headspace and mentality, experimentation doesn’t seem likely.

(Editor’s Note: the following Chelsea FC starting XI prediction is by Caleb Thompson)

Wow! Is this the headline that Arsenal FC supporters definitely DO NOT want to see. Arsenal Football Club fans might have to deal with Arsene Wenger, the manager that they cannot stand, for perhaps another half-decade.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic bailed out Wayne Rooney, and Manchester United in general, in a 1-0 win over Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League tonight. Ibrahimovic’s goal salvaged a positive result out of an uninspiring effort. The much maligned Wayne Rooney came on as a second-half substitute and provided the assist to Ibra’s goal on his very first touch of the game.

Manchester United Manager Jose Mourinho used a very colorful metaphor to describe his side’s very challenging schedule this upcoming month. Mourinho called the October a “poisoned gift.” The Red Devils take on Stoke City October 2nd, befire the long international break.

Then the rough and tumble slate portion begins as they face arch-rival Liverpool away on October 17th.

Iowa football fans aren’t too high on their team right now, but they have no idea what real pain is. Yes, the last two weeks have been brutal. They lost to a FBS team dressed up as a FCS power two weeks ago and then beat lowly irrelevant Rutgers in a fashion so unimpressive that it pretty much felt like a loss.

On top of that, they recently learned that their head coach is now college football’s equivalent of Arsene Wenger, the boss at Premier League club Arsenal; in power for life.

Nebraska football fans suffered mightily last season, but the football gods seem to be rewarding their indefatigable faith this season. Yes, Husker fans had their heart ripped out on numerous occasions last season, but they still went to a bowl game and finished with a record that can be classified as mediocre.

Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian is evolving at an astounding rate. At least according to the national NFL media narratives. The former Northwestern signal caller was named the Broncos QB1 on the same exact day that his alma mater had their season opening week press conference.

“A body like Arnold with a Denzel face,” Salt n Pepa rapped in their 1993 hit “What a man.” They’re referring to actors Arnold Schwarznegger and Denzel Washington, and it turns out the latter has indeed inspired a namesake who’s gone on to become famous in his own right.

Denzel Valentine is the only other Denzel that anyone has ever heard of; that’s not a coincidence. The argument is now settled.

Remember when Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal at Manchester United and then everyone assumed Juan Mata would then be transferred out?

The idea made sense; given how Mata was relegated to the bench at Mourinho’s Chelsea. The midfielder’s playing time was very scarce when United brought him over for a then club record £37.5 million in January 2014.

Manchester United are very likely to take tomorrow night’s Europa League clash against Zorya Luhansk much more seriously than their last match in Europe’s consolation bracket.

Against Feyenoord Rotterdam, Manager Jose Mourinho just wasn’t keyed up, and his team followed suit. The result was embarrassing, and the disinterest carried over from the mid-week defeat to the weekend Premier League fixture. The next result was a total disaster, as United lost to Watford, a side that was only just promoted a couple years ago.